Cleveland Guardians Prospect Report 6/26/24
Scoreboard:
Triple-A - Columbus Clippers vs Omaha Storm Chasers (PPD to 6/28 - rain)
Double-A - Akron RubberDucks 11, Altoona Curve 6
High-A - Lake County Captains 4, Great Lakes Loons 2
Single-A - Lynchburg Hillcats 6, Carolina Mudcats 3
Highlights:
CJ Kayfus (LF, Akron): 2-for-5, 2 R, 2 HRs, 3 RBIs, OF assist - All five of Kayfus’ hits in the last four games have gone for extra bases, four of them flying over the fence. His first longball tied the game at five in the seventh inning and his two-run blast in the ninth sparked a five-run frame. We know what he can do with a bat in his hand with a .371 batting average and 1.232 OPS in 18 games at the Double-A level, but he added an assist from the outfield, the lesser of his positions defensively.
Alexfri Planez (DH, Akron): 3-for-5, R, 2B, 3B, 3 RBIs - A three-hit day for Planez broke a spell of three consecutive games without a base knock. He was a homerun short of hitting for the cycle and all three of his hits resulted in runs scored for the RubberDucks. In 80 at-bats in the month of June, Planez has a .513 slugging percentage with 10 extra-base hits.
Jorge Burgos (RF, Lake County): 1-for-3, R, HR, RBI, BB - Burgos has been hot recently and Wednesday marks his third homerun in the last five games and he has reached base safely in six in a row. The season hasn’t quite gone as planned for the 22-year-old, but his seven homeruns ties his total from the 2023 season, and in only 35 games compared to 94 one year ago.
Jaison Chourio (CF, Lynchburg): 2-for-5, R, 2 2Bs, 3 RBIs, SB - Two hits for Chourio went for extra bases on Wednesday morning, including a two-run double in the third that put the Hillcats ahead 4-2. The 19-year-old switch hitting prospect now has eight doubles in the month of June and though the batting average has taken a slight dip, he has shown a little more pop of late. The speed has been something that he has displayed all season long with his 21 stolen bases after adding one more in this game.
Ralphy Velasquez (1B, Lynchburg): 2-for-5, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBIs, DP - After just missing a homerun with his first hit, Velasquez left no doubts on his two-run bomb in the top of the seventh. It came at a clutch time too to give the relief pitcher some insurance runs, going from a one-run lead to a three-run lead. The 19-year-old is inside the top-5 in the Carolina League in RBIs with 42, but he is still chasing the man above him in this article.
Notable Performances:
Khalil Watson (2B, Akron): 2-for-3, 3 R, 2B, RBI, 2 BBs - The 21-year-old reached base four times in Wednesday’s win, a feat he had previously not achieved in the 2024 season, highlighted by an RBI double in the ninth.
Milan Tolentino (3B, Akron): 2-for-4, RBI, BB - Three of the last four games for Tolentino have gone for multiple hits and in this the first game he has played in the Altoona series, he reached base a third time via base on balls.
Yordys Valdes (SS, Akron): 2-for-5, R, PO - Valdes recorded two singles and once he came around to score and once picked off. He is riding a four-game hit streak but has also struck out in all four of those games.
Zac Fascia (1B, Lake County): 1-for-2, R, HR, RBI, BB, DP - In his first at-bat of the ballgame, the 25-year-old hit his third homerun of the season. It is back-to-back games played for Fascia sending one over the wall.
Jake Miller (RP, Lake County): W (4-2), 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 3 Ks - It has been a little bit of feast or famine for Miller in the month of June, but this was his longest appearance and one of the most effective he has had in recent memory.
Wardquelin Vasquez (RP, Lynchburg): W (2-1), 4.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, BB, 5 Ks - Vasquez retired the first six batters he faced and was effective in his long relief appearance. He had to face the tying run in the ninth, but came away unscathed.
Tommy Hawke (LF, Lynchburg): 2-for-4, 2 R, BB, SB - It was an adventure for Hawke out in left with a pair of scares defensively, but at the dish he was able to reach base three times and came around to score twice.